Turkish customs authorities may impose penalties, including fines and criminal charges, on vessels with excess bunker fuel onboard compared to the declared quantity. This practice is considered smuggling and can lead to significant delays and legal consequences for the ship and its crew, according to Gard.
Unannounced Inspections Increasing
In November 2024, our correspondent Kalimbassieris Maritime warned that the trend of random customs inspections is once again on the rise and that any discovery of more bunkers onboard than the amount declared may be treated as a criminal act under the Turkish Anti-Smuggling Law No. 5607 Article 3.
The correspondent adds that once a bunker discrepancy has been established by customs, the authorities will order the confiscation of the smuggled goods, which in practical terms means that the vessel’s surplus bunkers will have to be discharged before departure. Furthermore, the person who smuggled goods into the country, i.e. the Master and/or Chief Officer, may face criminal charges and risk being sentenced to several years in prison plus monetary sanctions.
Recommendations
Operators and masters of vessels bound for Turkish ports are reminded to be particularly vigilant and attentive when completing the customs declaration. Specifically, the fuel oil remaining onboard must be carefully calculated and measured before being declared to Turkish customs. It is also important that all relevant crew members are made aware that undeclared bunkers is an issue in Turkish ports and that a discrepancy in the figures can have serious consequences for the crew.
All the required documents should be prepared in advance, before arriving in port, and double-checked that all is in order. It is critical to ensure that all consumables onboard, including bunkers, have been correctly listed in the proper declaration form. The accuracy of all numbers is crucial!
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Source: Gard
